LAS VEGAS — It was a night of extremely contrasting outcomes for longtime friends Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren.

In the co-main event, Woodley lost his welterweight title in a surprisingly one-sided unanimous decision to Kamaru Usman, one fight after Askren mounted a stunning comeback to submit Robbie Lawler in the first round at UFC 235 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

Usman, 31, was as impressive as Woodley, 36, was unimpressive, as the judges scored it 50-44, 50-44, 50-45 for “The Nigerian Nightmare” in what was expected to be a battle of outstanding wrestlers.

Yet after Woodley (19-4-1) had successfully defended his title four times – which going into the fight was the best in the UFC – it was Usman (15-1) who brought it for 25 minutes, pressuring Woodley and landing takedown after takedown in pitching a shutout.

Usman, a three-time NCAA Division II All-American wrestler at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, took the fight to Woodley, a two-time All-American at the University of Missouri.

The challenger’s pace and tenacity were unmatched as he came in as someone strong enough and unafraid to clinch and wrestle with the champion, who credited Usman for his great control and being heavy on top.

“Sometimes you have a night where you feel like you have a bad dream,” said Woodley, who lost for the first time in eight fights.

Woodley found himself down after three rounds, with his corner telling him to bite down on his mouthpiece and go for the finish.

Instead, it was Usman who continued to push. The closest Woodley came was a guillotine choke early in the fourth, but he slid off and landed on the mat, with Usman following him down for more pressure from top control. In the final minute of the fourth after the fight has returned to the feet, Usman had Woodley hurt and continued to land rights and lefts.

The final round was more of the same as Usman took Woodley down early, sealing the champ’s fate and ensuring the belt would change hands for the first time since July 2016.

Askren (19-0, 1 NC), a champion in Bellator and ONE Championships, had retired in November 2017, but came to the UFC in a ONE trade for former flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson. The UFC did him no favor in his first UFC fight by hooking him up with the hard-hitting former welterweight champ.

Askren, 34, survived a mauling in the opening seconds after shooting for a takedown and getting slammed onto his head.

Lawler (28-13) jumped on Askren and began unleashing right after right. It appeared referee Herb Dean was close to stopping the fight, but Askren was able to weather the assault and get ot his feet.

After one minute, Askren, who came into the fight a -280 favorite, was bloodied and to his feet. He eventually and doggedly got Lawler down and quickly transitioned to his back. Askren went for a rear-naked choke that Lawler escaped before sinking in a choke from Lawler’s left side.

Askren clasped and squeezed and held on for life. Dean at point seemed to check on Lawler, who gave the thumbs-up sign. Several seconds later, at 3:20 of the opening round, Dean signaled for Askren to let go.

Lawler immediately rose and protested the stoppage, but it was too late. Askren had mounted an impressive comeback – in terms of his career and the fight – to cement his place among the top 170-pounders in the UFC.

Fighting for the first time since late 2017, Lawler, 36, has lost two of three since losing his belt to Woodley via first-round knockout in 2016.